Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the Board of Investment, that is the BOI here in Thailand. I haven't done a video on BOI in a while, I don't know why, I just haven't really thought of it. The reason for the video, well the reason I thought of making it, I was reading a recent article in the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Thailand’s work permit rules for foreigners becoming much less Draconian. Quoting directly: "LTRV", and they mean Long Term Residence Visa which as we have discussed is not a Residence Visa, it's just a really long Visa, "LTRV is managed by the cash conscious Board of Investment and not by Embassies or the Immigration Bureau. Narit Therdsteerasukdi," (sorry, when I see it transliterated, it really throws me off) "spokesman for the Board of Investment, explained that he expected most applicants to be people working in high-tech industry such as electric vehicles, biotechnology and electronics. Some already have the four-year Smart Visa, which doesn't require a separate Work Permit and is clearly in direct competition with the LTRV." Yeah, we have talked about the Smart Visa before. That came out, it was talked about a lot. Not a ton of people use it; it is a pretty narrow subset of folks who use it, as I said before, I expect the LTR will be used by a relatively narrow group of people. 

But the reason for the video, just this, yet again: "LTRV is managed by the cash conscious Board of Investment, and not by Embassies or the Immigration Bureau." I urge those who are watching this video go check out that article; a lot more going on in there than just what I am talking about. But my question is where does the Board of Investment have the statutory Authority to issue visas? It is my understanding Immigration has the ability to issue Visa status in Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in their role as Embassies and Consulates abroad, can issue visas abroad. I am kind of just curious. I have done some research on this and I have tried to find it where exactly BOI has the authority to issue visas directly or is this going to be similar to, because BOI can issue concessions here in Thailand where they sort of direct Immigration to issue certain types of visas where they approve, they sort of endorse the application. But it is my understanding they don't issue visas directly and I am presuming that is not going to change. So it is going to be kind of interesting, at least interesting for me, I am sure people who watch these videos, think yeah, that is not the most fascinating thing in the world, it is kind of boring actually, but at least for me it is going to be interesting to watch this to see what the enabling powers are with respect to promulgation of these Long-Term Residence Visas here in the Kingdom of Thailand.